Women's Studies at The Florida State University has grown by leaps and bounds since the program was first established in 1974. In twenty-eight years, we have expanded our undergraduate program curriculum from four to forty-two permanent undergraduate courses offered. We 've also established a graduate minor program that consists of a twenty-five graduate course curriculum. We are currently working to establish a graduate certificate program. 

However, the road has not been easy. When the Women's Studies Program was first established in 1974, there was no full time director for the program. Dr. Jean Hales, of the FSU History Department, quickly volunteered to become the program's first coordinator in a volunteer/unpaid position. Because interest in the program was so strong, the English department released one faculty member, Dr. Sheila Ortiz-Taylor, from a single teaching assignment to coordinate the program.  In 1977, the program was funded for the first time, and Dr.  Hales became its first part time director.  In 1978, Women's Studies recieved its first full-time director, Dr. Diane Bernard of the FSU School of Social Work who served  for one year.  In 1981 Dr. Jean Hales, now Dr. Jean Bryant, (the unofficial mother of FSU's Women's Studies) was appointed head of the Women's Studies Program. Dr. Bryant directed the Women's Studies Program until her retirement on June 30, 2001. 

Under the new directorship of Dr. Joyce Carbonell, Women's Studies at FSU continues to flourish. We offer more courses than ever before, and are constantly seeking to expand our curriculum. FSU's Women's Studies continues its tradition of excellent community programming by hosting educational events and speakers such as bell hooks, The Vagina Monologues, Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, Pat Schroeder, and Arianna Huffington. We look foward to continuing an academic dialogue on gender issues both in and out of the classroom in new and innovative ways. 

Check out the Women's Studies Scrapbook!